Conical Flap Valve for Fast Flow Control and Complete Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid flow control valves, such as butterfly and axial flap valves, face challenges in achieving optimal sealing and rapid variation of fluid passage sections while maintaining high flow rates, often requiring complex leak management and slow movement due to mechanical actuation.
Innovation Solution
A conical-shaped fluid flow control valve with a shutter component comprising a conical flap and fixed support, featuring fluid passage apertures and a gasket seal, allowing for contactless actuation using electromagnetic or magnetic means, enabling rapid section variation and complete sealing without mechanical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a butterfly valve is used to achieve high flow rate, then the fluid passage section is adequate, but the valve cannot ensure complete sealing and requires complex leak management at the bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical butterfly valve system with a conical flap valve system where the shutter component rotates about an axis aligned with the fluid flow direction. This substitution eliminates the need for side-mounted bearings and seals, achieving complete sealing through the conical geometry that allows the flap to seal against the valve body bore without mechanical leakage paths
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the rotation axis perpendicular to the flow direction (butterfly valve), the patent inverts the approach by placing the rotation axis along the flow direction. This inversion fundamentally changes the sealing mechanism, allowing the conical flap to seal axially against the valve body without requiring side seals or bearing leak management
2Quantity of substance
If a butterfly valve is used to allow high flow rate, then the passage section is sufficient, but the movement of the butterfly cannot be achieved quickly and the variation of fluid passage section is slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical actuation systems with electromagnetic or magnetic actuation of the conical flap. This substitution enables rapid movement and precise control of the shutter component, significantly increasing the response speed and allowing quick variation of the fluid passage section while maintaining high flow rate capability
3Speed
If an axial flap valve is used to achieve rapid actuation, then the response speed improves, but the difficulty in actuating such valve makes it not widespread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electromagnetic or magnetic actuation systems to replace complex mechanical actuation mechanisms. This approach simplifies the overall device by eliminating intricate mechanical linkages, gears, and linkages while achieving rapid and precise control of the conical flap, making the valve both fast-responding and practically implementable
4Quantity of substance
If a butterfly valve is used, then the passage section allows high flow, but the circulation of fluid is disrupted by the presence of the butterfly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional valve geometry by aligning the rotation axis with the fluid flow direction rather than perpendicular to it. This inversion allows the conical flap to rotate in a manner that maintains smoother fluid circulation patterns, reducing disruption to the flow while still achieving effective flow control and sealing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The conical valve achieves fluid passage sections equivalent to butterfly valves with linear fluid circulation, rapid flow control, and improved sealing, reducing friction and wear, and is suitable for high-flow applications in air-conditioning and ventilation systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring configured to allow the conical flap to be kept away from the fixed support when said shutter component is in said open position or in an intermediate position, and to be compressed when said shutter component is in said closed position, so as to allow an axial movement of said flap that compresses said gasket seal
Implementation Method 2
allowing for contactless actuation using electromagnetic or magnetic means, enabling rapid section variation and complete sealing without mechanical contact
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for controlling a fluid flow includes a valve body, a shutter component configured to be able to transition from an open position allowing the circulation of fluid, to a closed position preventing the circulation of fluid. The component is characterized in that it includes a fixed conical support integral with the valve body, a conjugate conical flap rotationally movable relative to the fixed support, and fluid passage apertures respectively arranged in the conical flap and in the fixed support, and an actuator of the shutter component adapted to be able to control the position of the shutter component.